IN THE Cavalier Daily's Sept. 29 article "Three men rob fourth year at gunpoint," fourth-year College student Danny Schmidt expresses disbelief and agitation about the "lack of security" in the "area immediately surrounding the University." After having been robbed at gunpoint near Rugby Road, Schmidt finds it "preposterous" that a student "should feel unsafe walking along a highly populated, well-lit area on a Tuesday night."
What I find preposterous is Schmidt's complete ignorance of the reality of our community. The University is situated within a city that reported 21.4 percent of its residents living below the poverty line in 2009, with a per capita annual money income of roughly $23,000 according to the Census Bureau. Many of the people who live in Charlottesville cannot even afford to work for the University because it does not offer a feasible living wage.
We are like a factory, sucking the resources out of Charlottesville while simultaneously producing 'well-educated' people who give almost nothing back, yet expect to be protected from the reality of the place in which we reside. It is all too easy for us to ignore the citizens of Charlottesville who we believe to be beneath us. But by what stretch of the imagination can we possibly expect them to ignore or even respect us?
I implore Schmidt to imagine himself on the other side of the economic and racial divide that is evident between the University and its surrounding areas. Instead of enjoying the vast privileges of being a University student, imagine that you live in a place where you are completely and continuously marginalized; where you and the majority of your neighbors are economically impoverished; where there is a great university that you will not only never attend, but also most likely could not even work at without sacrificing your livelihood.
Imagine all this, and then add the slap-in-the-face attitudes of entitled University students who believe that it is their right to separate themselves from the problems existing within the community, simply because they 'wear the Honor' of attending Mr. Jefferson's University. Looking at the situation from the other side, hopefully, puts into perspective the way we tend to treat our neighbors in Charlottesville, and the reasons for some of the misdeeds that occur.
I am in no way condoning crime or violence of any kind. I simply am responding to Schmidt's blissful ignorance with some reasons for why these things happen. Although he suggests that we increase the security and police presence to benefit arrogantly unaware students who choose to put themselves in unsafe situations by walking alone at night, I suggest that we should instead educate ourselves about the realities of the greater community that exists outside of our protective 'community of trust.'
It is important to remain humble, and to appreciate the privilege that we automatically share as students here. We must really learn to understand and value the sacrifices that are made for us by those who are much less fortunate. It is only then that the relationship between the University and the people of Charlottesville will be a peaceful one, and we will be able to coexist with mutual respect.\n
Ryana Burrell is a fourth-year College student.
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